|
VATA
SAVITRI:
The fast to
Vata Savitri is observed generally on the 13th
day of the dark fortnight of Jyaishtha, but at some places
it is also observed on Jyaishtha Purnima. It is meant only
for the married women. The Hindu married women observe
this fast for the sake of longevity and well being of
their husbands.
The
story of Savitri and Satyavan is well known. According to
the scriptures, Savitri, the daughter of King Aswapati,
was the lover of Satyavan, whom she married; though a seer
warned her that Satyavan had only one year to live. On the
fateful day Satyavan went out to cut wood and Savitri
followed him like his shadow. As fate would have it,
Satyavan fell, dying to the earth, and, as the supported
him, she saw a figure, who told her that he was Yama and
had come to fetch her husband’s soul. Yama carried off his
soul towards his abode of death, but Savitri followed him.
Her devotion so pleased Yama, the god of death, that he
had to finally restore her husband’s life.
Vata is sacred tree among the Hindus. When Satyavan died
Savitri had worshipped the Vata (Banyan tree). So, on Vata
Savitri day women get up early in the morning and having
bathed they go to worship the Vata in-groups wearing gay
raiments. They ceremonially water the tree, sprinkle red
powder on it, wraps raw cotton threads round its trunk,
and then they go round it seven times, which is called the
parikrama.
On
returning home they paint a Vata on the sanctified wall
with turmeric powder and sandal and worship it. After
breaking the fast, fruits, clothes and such other articles
are given in charity in a bamboo basket to the Brahmins.
They tell the story of Satyavan-Savitri among themselves
and pry for the prosperity and good health of their
husbands.
|
